The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1887-07-13
,,be Saloon i'm Politics.
o immensely and En0rmity OF
The Liquor Traffic.

The Liquor Traffic.
Senator Window on the Impor-
tant Question of the Hour.
WOOD TICK. CT, July 4 -The
N William Window, formerly
Icretary of the Treasury of the
Hited States, made speech here
ldav on the Saloon in Politics"
began by remarking:
Emong the problems left US by
founders of our Government,
ne are SO grave and pressing,
i none threaten consequences so
astrous to our institutions, as
Il involved in the American sa-
In system. Time will not per.
4 me to notice the multiform
asses of the gigantic evil, which
its tendencies, magnitude and
tstructiveness, is the most dan
rous foe to the republic, and the
rest curse that afHicts mankind.
hail therefore waive fol the pre-
hi those broader and higher
maI considerations which dem
strate the liquor traffic, as now
ried on, to be the stupendous
me of the nineteenth century,
d confne myself mainly to the
Slitical and economical features
Fesented by the saloon in politics.
tnsidered merely upon the lower
lame of political economy, there is
one subject now before the
merican people at all comparable
gravity and Importance with
lis one. 1t embraces and invol-
g problems of taxation, indus
ial prosperity, material progress,
itical economy, general intelli-
nee, social order, personal and
mestic security, and even the
'undations of Government itself.
How to curtail and finally des-
BY this evil is the great problem
the hour. 1t has been called for
bal, and cannot be dismissed or
bstponed. The saloon has boldly
ktered politics, and it has come
stay until vanquished or vic
Irious. The time has come when
lis issue must be met. Political
Blrties can no longer dodge it if
ley would. Private citizens
ust take sides openly for or
ainst the saloon, with it's meth
Is and it's results. Neutrality is
fnceforth impossible; Indifference
henceforth betrayal of the trust
volved in citizenship"
This brings me to consider the
lations of the saloon to politics,
more properly of politics to the
loon, for in most of our cities the
linking saloon is the central
fwer around which politics re-
Dive, and which dictates candi-
ties and party politics. Even in
r national elections it sometimes
Fercises a controlling influence
Id decides Presidential contests.
the peculiar relation of political
Erties New York has become a
votal State. The saloons rule
q city, the city rules the State,
Fd the State decides the ruling
fwer of the republic. We are,
erefore, to all intents and pur-
fse, a rum.ruled nation.
LOSS OF PRODUCTIVE POWER.
Referring to the present magni-
fde of the liquor traffic in the
|nited States, he said:
The traffic claims to have in
Q United States, $1,00O,O00,OO0
vested in the business of max
6 and selling liquors. There
at least 100000 direct employees.
is estimated upon the best at
Unable authority that this tyrant's
wells cost annually more than
100000; that 100000 victims,
ldered worse than useless, are
sggering along in its triumphal
ocession to dishonored graves;
I'D that its army of immediate
tanners numbers 100000 more.
Ftimating that this million of
|akers, vendors and victims, if
gagged in some legitimate bust
Ess, could have earned $3.50 per